Train carrying GOP Congress members hits garbage truck, one dead

A chartered train carrying Republican lawmakers to a retreat collided with a trash truck Wednesday morning and left at least one person dead.

White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders there was one confirmed fatality and one person seriously injured.

“There are no serious injuries among members of Congress or their staff,” she said in a statement.

The victim’s identity was not immediately released.

One dead in crash between GOP train and trash truck2:51

The train was carrying House and Senate Republicans to the retreat in West Virginia when it hit the truck, Rep. Carlos Curbelo, of Florida, said on MSNBC.

“We were on our way to West Virginia and it was a sudden impact, a loud noise and everyone was jolted,” he said.

A statement from Amtrak said the crash happened at 11:20 a.m. in Crozet, Virginia.

“Local law enforcement is investigating the incident and crews are inspecting equipment for damage. The train originated in Washington, D.C. Updates will be provided as new information becomes available,” the statement said.

Arizona Sen. Jeff Flake described feeling a “big impact” during the crash and then making his way to help one of the injured. He had been traveling with his wife and 18-year-old son in one of the front cars of the train.

“I knew there were going to be bad injuries, so I worked my way back thinking they might need people to help carry people to ambulances, and they did,” he said, calling the accident a “terrible scene.”

Flake said he saw there was one fatality, “who they worked on for quite awhile while I was there and we were tending to the other injured person.”

Louisiana Sen. Bill Cassidy and Ohio Rep. Brad Wenstrup, both physicians, were among others who helped the injured, Flake said.

Flake said the front car of the train derailed during the crash and that the impact “smashed the truck pretty badly.”

Capitol Police Director Eva Malecki said in a statement that “Congressional officials, including the United States Capitol Police, are on the scene and are working closely with partner law enforcement agencies in response to the incident.”

Emergency personnel work at the scene of a train crash in Crozet, Virginia, involving an Amtrak passenger train carrying dozens of GOP lawmakers to a Republican retreat in on Wednesday, Jan. 31, 2018.Zack Wajsgrasu / The Daily Progress via AP

Several lawmakers tweeted about the incident and said they were uninjured.

“Our train heading to the GOP Retreat in West Virginia has been involved in an accident,” tweeted Sen. James Lankford, of Oklahoma. “I am safe but first responders are treating minor injuries on the train & treating the truck drivers.”